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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. He was locked up in a ________________.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. key — for a lock
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. ball — a dance
  5. deal — to handle
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. plane — a tool
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. chip — to eat
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. ball — a great time
  15. cell — a phone
  16. pitch — completely
  17. key — in music
  18. cell — in a prison
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. cell — in biology
  22. key — the most important part
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. leaves — lets stay

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com